Charger for aerosol-generating devices

ABSTRACT

A charger may be used as a social recharge hub that charges aerosol-generating devices and facilitate social connections. The charger may be able to charge a plurality of batteries concurrently or simultaneously. The charger may capable of associating a battery identifier of one or more batteries to a user. The user may also be associated with an aerosol-generating device and to a mobile user device. The charger may establish a connection with the mobile user device and communicate to the mobile user device using a communication interface. User data, such as preferences, interests, and even music, may be communicated from the mobile user device to the charger and may be used to facilitate social opportunities for the user, particularly in a public or social space with other users, or to make the space around the user more comfortable.

This disclosure relates to chargers, such as a social recharge hubconfigured to charge aerosol-generating devices and facilitate socialconnections.

Handheld aerosol-generating devices, such as cartomizer electroniccigarettes, are known, which utilize liquid to be evaporated or solidmaterial (which may contain tobacco) to be heated to generate aninhalable aerosol. These devices may provide an alternative experienceto conventional combustion cigarettes. Some devices may adopt a similarlook and feel to conventional cigarettes, which may be familiar, easy tohandle, portable, and easy to manufacture. Many aerosol-generatingdevices require a power source, such as a battery, to provide power anaerosolizer for generating aerosol.

Various maintenance activities may be required of someaerosol-generating devices that are unfamiliar to conventional cigaretteusers. For example, some aerosol-generating devices have a battery thatmust be recharged regularly in order to function properly. Duringrecharging, the aerosol-generating device may be unusable. Users ofconventional cigarettes may find themselves uncomfortable with the lackof engagement with the aerosol-generating device during recharging,which is not required of conventional cigarettes, particularly in publicand social settings. Further, in some social settings, users in a groupmay wish to use their devices at the same time (for example, during awork break or while waiting for public transportation), so multipleusers in the group may need to recharge their aerosol-generating devicesat the same time.

In general, the present disclosure relates to a charger for anaerosol-generating device capable of charging a battery for theaerosol-generating device and capable of associating a batteryidentifier of the battery to a user of the aerosol-generating device.The charger may be able to charge a plurality of batteries concurrentlyor simultaneously. The user of the aerosol-generating device may also bethe user of a mobile user device, which may establish a connection withthe charger and communicate with the charger using a communicationinterface. User data, such as preferences, interests, and even music,may be communicated from the mobile user device to the charger and maybe used to facilitate social opportunities for the user, particularly ina public or social space with other users, or to make the space aroundthe user more comfortable.

Various aspects of the present disclosure relate to a charger for anaerosol-generating device. The charger includes a charging interfaceoperatively couplable to a battery for the aerosol-generating device.The charger also includes a communication interface to communicate witha mobile user device at least while the battery is coupled to thecharging interface. The mobile user device is separate from the battery.The charger further includes a controller operatively coupled to thecharging interface and the communication interface. The controller isconfigured to determine a unique battery identifier corresponding to thebattery to allow the controller to distinguish one battery from otherbatteries coupled to the charging interface. The controller is alsoconfigured to establish a connection with the mobile user device usingthe communication interface. The connection is configured to communicateuser data. The controller is further configured to associate the batteryidentifier with the mobile user device in response to the determinationof the battery identifier and the established connection with the mobileuser device.

Various aspects of the present disclosure relate to a charger for anaerosol-generating device. The charger includes a charging interfaceoperatively couplable to a battery for the aerosol-generating device andat least one other battery for aerosol-generating devices of otherusers. The charger also includes a communication interface tocommunicate with a mobile user device at least while the battery iscoupled to the charging interface. The charger further includes acontroller operatively coupled to the charging interface and thecommunication interface. The controller is configured to establish aconnection with the mobile user device using the communication interfaceat least when the battery is coupled to the charging interface. Theconnection is configured to communicate user data. The controller isalso configured to receive user data from the mobile user device usingthe connection. The controller is further configured to provide socialdata based on the user data to one or both of the charging interface andthe communication interface to share with other users having batteriescoupled to the charging interface.

Various aspects of the present disclosure relate to a charger for anaerosol-generating device. The charger includes a charging interfaceoperatively couplable to a battery for the aerosol-generating device.The charger also includes an air sensor configured to detect acontaminant. The charger further includes a controller operativelycoupled to the charging interface and the air sensor. The controller isconfigured to detect the contaminant using the air sensor. Thecontroller is also configured to activate an air mover in response todetection of the contaminant.

Various aspects of the present disclosure relate to a charger for anaerosol-generating device. The charger includes a charging interfaceoperatively couplable to a battery for the aerosol-generating device.The charger also includes a cleaning port to receive at least a portionof the aerosol-generating device for cleaning, the cleaning port havingan activatable cleaning element to clean the aerosol-generating devicewhen at least the portion is received in the cleaning port. The chargerfurther includes a controller operatively coupled to the charginginterface and the cleaning element. The controller is configured toactivate the cleaning element to clean the aerosol-generating device.The controller is also configured to establish a connection with amobile user device.

In one or more aspects, the controller is operatively coupled to acommunication interface to communicate with a mobile user device atleast while the battery is coupled to the charging interface. Thecontroller is configured to establish a connection with the mobile userdevice using the communication interface. The connection is configuredto communicate user data. The controller is also configured to associatea battery identifier with the mobile user device after establishing theconnection with the mobile user device.

In one or more aspects, the user data includes one or more of: ausername associated with the mobile user device, a mobile user deviceidentifier, a maximum battery charging time, one or more batteryidentifiers associated with the mobile user device, cleaning data,calendar data, travel data, multimedia data, user preference data, andsocial data.

In one or more aspects, the controller is further configured toestablish the connection using a Bluetooth protocol.

In one or more aspects, the controller is further configured toassociate the battery identifier with the mobile user device based onuser data communicated between the communication interface and themobile user device.

In one or more aspects, the controller is further configured to receivethe battery identifier using the charging interface in response tocoupling the battery to the charging interface.

In one or more aspects, the controller is configured to send the batteryidentifier to the mobile user device using the communication interface.The controller is also configured to receive a determination from themobile user device that the battery identifier matches the mobile userdevice after sending the battery identifier to the mobile user device.

In one or more aspects, the controller is further configured to send thebattery identifier to any mobile user device connected to the controllerto associate the battery with a particular mobile user device.

In one or more aspects, the controller is configured to receive one ormore battery identifiers associated with the mobile user device from themobile user device. The controller is also configured to determinewhether the battery identifier matches one of the received one or morebattery identifiers.

In one or more aspects, the controller is further configured todisconnect from the mobile user device in response to the determinationthat the battery identifier does not match.

In one or more aspects, the controller is further configured to searchfor another mobile user device in response to a determination that thebattery identifier does not match.

In one or more aspects, the controller is further configured todisconnect from the mobile user device in response to the battery beinguncoupled from the charging interface.

In one or more aspects, the controller is configured to detect useraction associated with the battery. The controller is also configured tosend the battery identifier to the mobile user device using thecommunication interface in response to detection of the user action.

In one or more aspects, the charging interface includes a screen and thecontroller is further configured to generate a viewable element based onuser data from the mobile user device and display the viewable elementon the screen.

In one or more aspects, the controller is further configured to modulatea battery charging current based on the maximum battery charging timereceived from the mobile user device.

In one or more aspects, the maximum battery charging time is determinedin response to one or more of calendar data, travel data, and userpreference data.

In one or more aspects, the controller is configured to store anassociation of the battery and the mobile user device. The controller isalso configured to search for the mobile user device using thecommunication interface in response to the battery being recoupled tothe charging interface.

In one or more aspects, the controller is further configured to sendcharger data to the mobile user device using the communicationinterface. The charger data includes one or more of: a level of chargeof the battery, a time before full charge of the battery, a warning thatfull charge of the battery is completed, a warning that the batteryremains operatively coupled to the charging interface in response to theuser having an upcoming event, a time since last cleaning of theaerosol-generating device at this charger, a geographic location of thecharger, and a service suggestion.

In one or more aspects, the controller is further configured to chargethe battery according to one or more of: a quick charge mode and a loadbalancing mode.

In one or more aspects, the controller is operatively couplable to awireless network to send a message to the mobile user device related tocharging the battery.

In one or more aspects, the controller is further configured todetermine social data based on the user data from the mobile userdevice. The controller is also configured to share the social data withother mobile user devices having an established connection using thecommunication interface.

In one or more aspects, the charger includes a housing having thecharging interface. The housing further includes a locking componentassignable to one or more users.

In one or more aspects, the charging interface allows a user to lock thebattery to the charging interface to prevent others from taking thebattery.

Advantageously, utilizing the charger may turn the problem of multipleusers needing to charge their aerosol-generating devices into anopportunity for social exchange. The charger may also provide apersonalized recharging experience that may consider the calendar andtravel schedule of the user, as well as entertainment preferences of theuser. Further, the charger may facilitate social opportunities withother users of the charger by sharing social information with the otherusers. Further still, the charger may provide a convenient cleaning ofone or more parts of the aerosol-generating device that may be used inconjunction with battery charging. Additionally, the charger mayfacilitate a more comfortable ambient environment for users proximate tothe charger by communicating with one or more environmental controlsremote to the charger. Other benefits will become apparent to oneskilled in the art having the benefit of this disclosure. The presentdisclosure describes herein the charger in more detail.

All scientific and technical terms used herein have meanings commonlyused in the art unless otherwise specified. The definitions providedherein are to facilitate understanding of certain terms used frequentlyherein.

The term “aerosol-generating device” refers to a device configured touse an aerosol-generating substrate to generate aerosol. Preferably, theaerosol-generating device also includes an aerosolizer, such as anatomizer, cartomizer, or heater.

The term “aerosol-generating substrate” refers to a device or substratethat releases, upon heating, volatile compounds that may form an aerosolto be inhaled by a user. Suitable aerosol-generating substrates mayinclude plant-based material. For example, the aerosol-generatingsubstrate may include tobacco or a tobacco-containing materialcontaining volatile tobacco flavor compounds, which are released fromthe aerosol-generating substrate upon heating. In addition, oralternatively, an aerosol-generating substrate may include a non-tobaccocontaining material. The aerosol-generating substrate may includehomogenized plant-based material. The aerosol-generating substrate mayinclude at least one aerosol former. The aerosol-generating substratemay include other additives and ingredients such as flavorants.Preferably, the aerosol-generating substrate is a liquid at roomtemperature. For example, the aerosol forming substrate may be a liquidsolution, suspension, dispersion or the like. Preferably, theaerosol-generating substrate may include glycerol, propylene glycol,water, nicotine and, optionally, one or more flavorants. Preferably, theaerosol-generating substrate includes nicotine.

The term “tobacco material” refers to a material or substance includingtobacco, which includes tobacco blends or flavored tobacco, for example.

The term “cartomizer” refers to a combination of cartridge and atomizerthat is part of an electronic cigarette.

The present disclosure provides a charger for aerosol-generatingdevices. The charger may be described as a social recharge hubconfigured to charge a plurality of aerosol-generating devices andfacilitate social connections between users of the aerosol-generatingdevices.

The aerosol-generating device may use or include an aerosol-generatingsubstrate. The aerosol-generating substrate may be formed of or becontained in a cartridge or heat stick, which may be coupled to ahousing of the aerosol-generating device.

An aerosolizer may be operatively coupled to the aerosol-generatingsubstrate to generate aerosol when activated. In particular, theaerosolizer may be thermally coupled to the aerosol-generatingsubstrate. The aerosolizer may also be coupled to the housing of theaerosol-generating device. The aerosolizer may be at least partially orentirely disposed in a mouth portion of the aerosol-generating device.The aerosolizer may be at least partially disposed in a controllerportion.

The aerosolizer may utilize any suitable technique for generatingaerosol from the aerosol-generating substrate. The aerosolizer may useheat to generate aerosol and include one or more heating components,such as a heating blade, a heater, or an induction coil and susceptor(utilizing induction heating). The susceptor may be any suitablestructure capable of being heated by induction, such as a mesh heater.Additionally, or alternatively, the aerosolizer may include a vibratingelement, which may not need heat to generate aerosol. The heating blademay be useful for inserting into a solid substrate and being heated toproduce aerosol. The heater may include a heating element disposedadjacent to a liquid substrate that is heated to produce aerosol. Aheater may be a mesh heater. The mesh heater may allow liquid substratestored in the storage compartment to pass through interstices in themesh heater from one surface of the mesh to an opposite surface of themesh.

The aerosol-generating substrate may be contained in a substratehousing. The substrate may be described as, or as a content of, a heatstick. The aerosolizer may be coupled to the consumable device toaerosolize the heat stick or the heat stick contents. The heat providedby the heating blade to the heat stick may not burn the smokingmaterial. The smoking material may include tobacco.

The aerosolizer may include a heater, a heater coil, a chemical heatsource such as a carbon heat source, or any suitable means that heats aliquid substrate to generate aerosol from a liquid substrate. Theaerosolizer may receive electrical energy or power to release orgenerate aerosol from the liquid substrate. The aerosolizer may be aheater that varies in temperature depending on the electrical energyreceived. For example, the heater may rise in temperature in response toa higher voltage received. The aerosolizer may be disposed adjacent tothe aerosol-generating substrate. For example, the aerosolizer may becoupled adjacent to the liquid substrate.

The aerosolizer may be compatible for use with an aerosol-generatingsubstrate having a nicotine source and a lactic acid source. Thenicotine source may include a sorption element, such as a PTFE wick withnicotine adsorbed thereon, which may be inserted into a chamber forminga first compartment. The lactic acid source may include a sorptionelement, such as a PTFE wick, with lactic acid adsorbed thereon, whichmay be inserted into a chamber forming a second compartment. Theaerosolizer may include a heater to heat both the nicotine source andthe lactic acid source. Then, the nicotine vapor may react with thelactic acid vapor in the gas phase to form an aerosol.

The aerosolizer may be compatible for use with an aerosol-generatingsubstrate having a capsule that contains nicotine particles and disposedin a cavity. During a user's inhalation, the air flow may rotate thecapsule. The rotation may suspend and aerosolize the nicotine particles.

The aerosol-generating device may include an actuator. The actuator mayinclude a button or other type of switch. The actuator may be engaged inresponse to being pressed, toggled, or otherwise manipulated by theuser. The engagement of the actuator may initiate various functionalityof the aerosol-generating substrate. The aerosolizer may be activated inresponse to engagement of the actuator.

The actuator may be coupled to the housing of the aerosol-generatingdevice. For example, the actuator may be disposed in or on the housingof the aerosol-generating device to be accessible by the user. Inparticular, the actuator may be disposed on the control portion of theaerosol-generating device. The actuator may be associated with one ormore functions. The actuator may be used to power on (for example,activate) and power off (for example, deactivate) the aerosolizer orother components of the aerosol-generating device. The actuator mayutilize any suitable mechanism to receive input from the user, such as amechanical button that may be pressed by the user.

In addition, or as an alternative, to the actuator, a puff sensor may beoperatively coupled to the aerosolizer to activate the aerosolizer. Apuff sensor may be operatively coupled to a controller of theaerosol-generating device. A puff sensor may detect an inhalation by theuser on the mouth portion of the aerosol-generating device. The puffsensor may be positioned within an airflow channel in theaerosol-generating device to detect when a user inhales, or puffs, onthe device. The puff may be detected by the controller using the puffsensor. Non-limiting types of puff sensors may include one or more of avibrating membrane, a piezoelectric sensor, a mesh-like membrane, apressure sensor (for example, a capacitive pressure sensor), or anairflow switch.

A power source may be used to provide power to the aerosolizer or othercomponents of the aerosol-generating device. The power source may beoperatively coupled to at least the aerosolizer. The power source mayalso be operatively coupled to the display or the control circuit. Thepower source may be disposed in the controller portion of theaerosol-generating device. The power source may be a battery. Theaerosol-generating device may accept disposable or rechargeablebatteries. The power source may include a charging interface configuredto operatively couple to an external power source to charge the battery.

The battery may include a battery identifier, such as a serial number,which may be used to identify the battery. The battery identifier may bestored in a memory of the battery and may be accessible through aconnection on the battery, such as the battery terminals. The batteryidentifier may be retrieved through the battery terminals even when thebattery is being charged, or before or after charging. Preferably, thebattery identifier may be received by the charger before charging orearly during the charging process.

Additionally, or alternatively, the battery identifier may visible to auser of the battery. For example, the battery identifier may be printedon a label attached to a surface of the battery, which the user mayread. The battery identifier may be printed as a code, such as a barcodeor QR code, which may be read by any suitable barcode reader. Thecharger may receive the battery identifier in response to user input,for example, input into a mobile user device operably coupled to thecharger or even input into the charger itself when a user interface isprovided.

The charger may be located in any suitable or convenient area for one ormore users of aerosol-generating devices to access and recharge theirbatteries. For example, the user may enjoy use of the aerosol-generatingdevice one or more times while the user is out in public, such as duringthe workday or when traveling. The battery may need to be recharged inthose public and social spaces, which may include a location in or nearthe office or a transit centre for airplanes, trains, or buses. Thecharger may be a permanent fixture in an area or may be a portablecharger.

The charger may be capable of recharging one or more batteries.Preferably, a plurality of batteries may be charged concurrently (forexample, at the same time or simultaneously). Each battery maycorrespond to a different user or aerosol-generating device. The chargermay include a charging interface that is operably couplable to one ormore batteries. The charging interface may be configured to work withmultiple different In particular, the charger may include one or morecharging ports each capable of receiving a battery for charging.

A power supply may allow the charger to be plugged into an electricaloutlet to provide electrical power to the charger. The charger may alsoinclude a battery to allow for portable charging of theaerosol-generating device battery.

The charger may include a graphical user interface, such as one or morelight-emitting diodes (LED) or display screens. Various information,such as identifiers, names, messages, warnings, alerts, and the like maybe provided by the graphical user interface to one or more users in thevicinity of the charger. The graphical user interface may also includeuser input capability, such as an actuator or a touchscreen. Thegraphical user interface may be used to indicate a charging status ofthe battery being charged by the charger. For example, using an LEDdisposed proximate or adjacent to the battery being charged. Thegraphical user interface may be used to facilitate social functionality(for example, social games). For example, one or more LEDs proximate oradjacent to the battery may be modulated, such as lighting up orblinking simultaneously to indicate an interest of the user or a matchof shared interests among multiple users. As another example, the screenmay show a visual element that indicates users who have the sameinterests using a message on the screen.

The graphical user interface may include one or more display screens.The graphical user interface may include a specific screen associatedwith one or more of the charging ports. For example, each charging portmay have a different associated specific screen. Information about theuser may be displayed on the specific screen based on user data, forexample, the name of the user or a particular preference or interest.

The graphical user interface may include a general, or primary, screenassociated with a plurality of the charging ports (for example, some orall). The general screen may be disposed centrally on the charger andvisible to multiple users. Global messages may be shown on the generalscreen, which may be used to increase socialization among the users. Forexample, the charger may include one or more speakers, which may be usedto provide information or entertainment to the users, such as music. Thegeneral screen may display the name of the music currently being playedon the speaker of the charger, which may be transmitting from one of theconnected mobile user devices to the charger.

The charger may allow a user to lock an aerosol-generating device thatis coupled to the charger, for example, coupled to the charginginterface or the cleaning interface. For example, the charger may allowthe user to lock the battery coupled to the charging interface. Whenlocked, the battery may not be readily removable from the charginginterface. The locking of the battery may mitigate the user accidentallytaking a wrong battery out of the charger (for example, a batterybelonging to another user). The user may unlock the battery with a userinput. The user may provide input to lock or unlock the battery using amobile user device, such as a smartphone or tablet, accessible by theuser.

The charging interface may include one or more actuators, such as abutton, which may be in addition to or an alternative to a touchscreenon the charging interface. For example, at least one actuator may beassociated with one of the batteries coupled to the charging interface.A user action, such as pressing the button, may be received as userinput. The user input may be used for various functionality of thecharger. For example, pressing the button may command the charger tosend the battery identifier of the battery associated with the button tothe mobile user device.

The charger may include a speaker to provide further interaction for theuser. For example, music may be provided from the mobile user device tothe charger for playback over the speaker. The speaker may also be usedfor informational purposes to alert the user, for example, with messagesrelating to charging status or schedule.

A cleaning port may be provided that is accessible to one or more users.One or more components of the aerosol-generating device may need to becleaned occasionally, such as the heating blade. The cleaning port mayinclude an activatable cleaning element, which may be used to clean theone or more components of the aerosol-generating device before, during,or after charging the battery. A non-limiting example of an activatablecleaning element is a rotating brush at least partially disposed in thecleaning port.

The charger may include a housing that maintains or at least partiallycontains one or more of the components of the charger. One or more ofthe power supply, the graphical user interface, the charging interface,the speaker, and the cleaning port may be coupled to the housing and atleast partially disposed in or on the housing. One or more of thegraphical user interface, the charging interface including one or morecharging ports, and one or more cleaning ports may form at least part ofan outer surface of the housing. For example, the charging ports and thecleaning ports may be disposed in the housing or formed therein tocreate receptacles for receiving components of the aerosol-generatingdevice.

The charger and the housing may be modular. In other words, the chargermay include one or more modules, or a plurality of modules, to carry outvarious functionality. For example, the housing of the charger mayinclude one or more removably couplable portions. Each of the modules,or each of the removably couplable portions, may be coupled to form astack. One module may include the charging interface. Another module mayprovide a power supply for the charger, which may include a battery or aconnection to an external power source (for example, an electricaloutlet). Yet another module may provide the air quality sensor and maybe operatively couplable to an air mover to control the air mover (forexample, using a wired or wireless connection). A further module mayinclude the cleaning port, which may include, for example, a rotatingbrush to clean a heating blade. In this manner, the functionality of thecharger may be conveniently customised to the requirements of aparticular location.

One or more locking components may be operably coupled to the charger.For example, a locking component may be a lockable compartment (forexample, a drawer or locker) or an attachable component (for example, alocking wire coupled to the aerosol-generating device). The charger mayassign one or more users, who may be identified with user data or thebattery identifier, to each locking component. The locking component maybe coupled to the housing of the charger. The locking component may beremote to the housing but controllable by the charger. The lockingcomponent may be used for securing or storing various aerosol-generatingsubstrates or any other items, such as sensorial media or otheraerosol-generating accessories. In addition, or as an alternative, totraditional mechanical locks, the locking component may use anelectronically-controllable lock that locks and unlocks in response tothe presence of the user or in response to user input. For example, whenthe user couples a battery to the charger that is identified with thesame user, the locking component assigned to the user may unlock becausethe user is present. When the user removes the battery from the charger,the locking component may lock. As another example, the user may provideuser input to the graphical user interface or the mobile user device incommunication with the charger that identifies the user, which maycommand the associated locking component to lock or unlock.

The locking and unlocking features related to the locking component maybe the same as, or different from, the features of the battery lock, andvice versa.

The charger may provide a communication interface that may be used tocommunicate with one or more other devices, such as the mobile userdevice. The communication interface may be configured to communicatewith one or more mobile user devices. In particular, the communicationinterface may communicate with the mobile user device at least while thebattery associated with the same user is coupled to the charginginterface. The mobile user device may also be used to manage variousfunctionality of the charger (for example, charging, cleaning, airquality, etc.).

The communication interface may use any suitable technique tocommunicate with other devices. The communication interface may utilizewireless communication. A non-limiting example of wireless communicationincludes using a Bluetooth connection, such as Bluetooth Low Energy(BLE). Additionally, or alternatively, the communication interface mayutilize wired communication, such as a universal serial bus (USB) orpower-line communication. Further, the charger may be capable ofcharging one or more mobile devices through the communication interface(or through another interface), for example, using a USB connection.

A sensor, such as an air sensor for air quality, may be provided by thecharger. An air sensor may be used to detect a contaminant in thevicinity of the charger. The air sensor may be on the charger ordisposed remote to the charger (for example, operably coupled by a wiredor wireless connection). Non-limiting examples of contaminantsdetectable by the air sensor include: volatile organic compounds (VOCs),carbon dioxide (CO₂), etc. Once a contaminant is detected, an alert maybe sent to the mobile user device that the air quality is low.

The charger may include a controller that may be operably coupled to oneor more other components of the charger to carry out variousfunctionality described herein. The controller may include a memory ormemory unit to store one or more instructions that may be executed by aprocessor or processing unit of the controller.

The controller may be operatively coupled to the charging interface andthe communication interface. The controller may receive the batteryidentifier, for example, using the charging interface. In response tocoupling the battery to the charging interface, the controller may beable to access to the battery identifier.

The controller may determine the battery identifier corresponding to thebattery coupled to the charging interface, for example, using of thecharging ports. The controller may be connected to multiple chargingports. In response to the battery being coupled to the charginginterface, the controller may be able to determine the correspondingbattery identifier.

The controller may establish a connection with the mobile user deviceusing the communication interface, for example, at least when thebattery is coupled to the charging interface. The controller may betriggered by, or may be capable of detecting, the coupling of thebattery to the charging interface and then may initiate a connection tothe mobile user device. The charger may be able to establish theconnection to the mobile user device before the battery is coupled tothe charging interface. For example, a user may engage an actuator ortouchscreen element associated with a particular charging port toestablish the connection to the mobile user device, and then the batterymay be coupled to said charging port. The connection may be used tocommunicate user data, for example, from the mobile user device to thecharger, or vice versa. Other types of data may be communicated over theconnection, too.

The controller may send the battery identifier to the mobile user deviceusing the communication interface. For example, the mobile user devicemay not have stored the battery identifier associated with the batteryfor the aerosol-generating device. In response to detection of the useraction (for example, user engagement of the actuator corresponding toone of the charging ports), the battery identifier received by thecontroller using the charging interface may be communicated over theconnection to the mobile user device. The mobile user device may thenstore the battery identifier.

The controller may also receive a determination from the mobile userdevice that the battery identifier matches the mobile user device. Themobile user device may have stored one or more battery identifiersassociated with the battery or batteries for the aerosol-generatingdevice. The battery identifier may be sent from the charger to themobile user device after the battery is coupled to the charginginterface. The mobile user device may determine that the receivedbattery identifier matches one of the stored battery identifiers. Themobile user device may send the determination to the charger that thebattery identifier of the battery coupled to the charging interfacematches, or is associated with, the user of the mobile device.

The controller may receive one or more battery identifiers from themobile user device. One or more battery identifiers may be stored on themobile user device, which may be associated with the mobile user device(for example, previously identified as associated to the user of themobile user device), and may be sent from the mobile user device to thecharger. The controller may receive the one or more battery identifiersfor comparison with the battery identifier received using the charginginterface after the battery has been coupled to the charging interface.In response to the battery identifier from the coupled battery matchingthe one of the battery identifiers received from the mobile user device,the controller may determine that the battery identifier is associatedwith the mobile user device.

The controller may associate the battery identifier with the mobile userdevice in response to the determination of the battery identifier andthe established connection with the mobile user device (for example,sending or receiving one or more battery identifiers for comparison).Additionally, or alternatively, the battery identifier may be associatedwith the mobile user device based on user data communicated between thecommunication interface and the mobile user device. For example, theuser may interact with the mobile user device to indicate that thebattery coupled to the charging interface may be associated with theparticular mobile user device after establishing the connection.

The controller may receive user data from the mobile user device usingthe connection. User data may include any data associated with the userof the mobile user device. Non-limiting examples of user data include: ausername associated with the mobile user device, a mobile user deviceidentifier, a maximum battery charging time, one or more batteryidentifiers associated with the mobile user device, cleaning data (forexample, a time since last cleaning of the aerosol-generating device),calendar data (for example, appointments), travel data (for example, atravel schedule or past trip history), multimedia data (for example,music or other files), user preference data (for example, air qualitypreferences, room lighting, or entertainment preferences, such as a typeof music or movie), or social data (for example, hobbies, interests, orfavourite music). Non-limiting examples of a mobile user deviceidentifier include: International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI),Mobile Equipment Identifier (MEID), Electronic Serial Number (ESN), orInternational Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI).

The controller may be capable of providing social data based on userdata, which may be received from the mobile user device. For example,the controller may show on the graphical user interface the number ofusers that enjoy a particular type of music based on data from themobile user devices connected that indicate enjoyment of the particulartype of music. The controller may share social data of a connectedmobile user device with other connected mobile user devices using thecommunication interface.

The controller may also be coupled to the air sensor to detect one ormore contaminants near the charger. The controller may further beoperably coupled to an air mover. The air mover may be part of thecharger or may be disposed remote from the charger (for example, coupledby a wired or wireless connection). The air mover may be disposedproximate to, adjacent to, or in a space or room shared with thecharger. Non-limiting examples of an air mover include: a motorized fan,an air conditioning unit, or a space heating unit. Non-limiting examplesof wireless connections include: Wi-Fi or a “smart switch” connection.

The air mover may blow air, disperse air, or extract contaminants fromthe air. The air mover may be described as an air cleaner, ventilator,or air circulator. For example, the air mover may include a replaceableactivated carbon filter for filtering odours from an enclosed spaceshared with the charger (which may be used in a contaminant extractormode). The air mover may also include an air freshening substrate, whichmay be positioned to release air freshener into the air stream of theair mover, manually or automatically on a regular basis.

The controller may activate or turn on the air mover (for example,automatically) in response to detection of the contaminant automaticallyor provide a suggestion to the user. Upon receiving user preferencedata, for example, from the mobile user device or by user input, thecontroller may adjust the activation of the air mover. Once the airmover is activated by the controller, the fan may be deactivated orturned off, for example, after a predetermined amount of time or inresponse to the air sensor reading dropping below a predeterminedthreshold (for example, a threshold concentration) or overall thresholdair quality.

The mobile user device may be operably coupled to the air mover, forexample, to activate or deactivate the air mover in response to userinput or to change the mode of the air mover (for example, between a fanmode or a contaminant extractor mode). The air mover may be operablycoupled to the mobile user device using the communication interface ofthe charger. The mobile user device may receive an alert of low airquality, and the user may respond with user input to the mobile userdevice, the charger, or an actuator operably coupled to an air mover.When multiple mobile user devices are connected to controller, any usermay be allowed to control the fan.

The controller may be coupled to a light sensor to detect lightingconditions around the charger. The controller may further be operablycoupled to room lighting. Upon receiving user preference data, forexample, from the mobile user device or by user input, the controllermay adjust the room lighting automatically or provide a suggestion tothe user.

The controller may further be coupled to the cleaning element. Thecontroller may activate the cleaning element to clean theaerosol-generating device, for example, automatically in response todetecting the presence of the aerosol-generating device in the cleaningport. Additionally, or alternatively, the controller may activate thecleaning element in response to a user action (for example, engaging anactuator associated with the cleaning port).

The controller may disconnect from the mobile user device. For example,the mobile user device may be disconnected in response to thedetermination that the battery identifier received using the charginginterface does not match with the mobile user device connected using thecommunication interface. In response to a determination that the batteryidentifier does not match, the controller may search for a mobile userdevice that does match the battery coupled to the charging interface.Also, the mobile user device may be disconnected in response to thebattery being uncoupled, or removed, from the charging interface. Forexample, once the user removes the battery from the charging interface,the controller may also disconnect the mobile user device.

The controller may detect a user action associated with the battery. Forexample, an actuator associated with the charging port that receives thebattery may be engaged by the user. The engagement may indicate that thecontroller should establish a connection with the mobile user device, ormay even indicate that the controller should disconnect the mobile userdevice associated with the battery.

The controller may generate a viewable element (for example, viewable onthe screen of the graphical user interface associated with the charginginterface) based on user data from the mobile user device. For example,the user data may include calendar data, and the viewable elementdisplayed on the screen may be a reminder of the user's nextappointment.

The controller may be capable of modulating a battery charging currentfor the battery based on the maximum battery charging time. Thecontroller may be capable of charging the battery in a quick charge mode(more current for a particular battery) or a load balancing mode (forexample, the charger is running on batteries and not plugged into anelectrical outlet). A maximum battery charging time may be determined bythe controller in response to one or more of calendar data, travel data,and user preference data. The controller may enter a quick charge modeof the battery in response to the user's calendar indicating an urgentappointment, that may be more urgent than the schedule of other userscharging batteries.

Charger data may be sent to the mobile user device using thecommunication interface. Charger data may be any data related to thecharger. Non-limiting examples of charger data include: a level ofcharge of the battery, a time before full charge of the battery, awarning that full charge of the battery is completed, a warning that thebattery remains operatively coupled to the charging interface inresponse to the user having an upcoming event, a time since lastcleaning of the aerosol-generating device at this charger, a geographiclocation of the charger, ora service suggestion (to clean, to quickcharge, etc).

The geographic location of the charger may be used by the mobile userdevice, for example, to keep track of places the user has alreadycharged the battery. The geographic location history may be useful associal data. For example, historic location data may be used in socialfunctionality, for example, to match the user with other users who haveor have not travelled to the same geographic locations. Geographiclocation data may be useful as user preference data. For example, thecontroller may adjust a threshold air quality based on the preference ofthe user, such as a local norm of air quality (for example, based on theair quality standard where the user lives), before turning on the airmover.

Additionally, or alternatively, the controller of the charger may becoupled to a wireless network (for example, Wi-Fi or cellular), whichmay or may not include the mobile user device. The controller may usethe wireless network to send a message to the mobile user device, forexample, related to charging the battery. The user may plug the batteryinto the charging interface. The controller may establish a connectionwith the mobile user device of the user and retrieve the mobile userdevice phone number or other communication identifier. The user may thenleave the vicinity of the charger (for example, return to the office orgo to a store or restroom) such that the user cannot see the graphicaluser interface of the charger, which may indicate the charging status ofthe battery. Once the charge is complete, the user may be notified by amessage, such as a text message, e-mail, or application notice, toreturn and pick up the charged battery.

One or more of the controllers described herein may include a processor,such as a central processing unit (CPU), computer, logic array, or otherdevice capable of directing data coming into or out of the charger. Thecontroller may include one or more computing devices having memory,processing, and communication hardware. The functions of the controllermay be performed by hardware and/or as computer instructions on anon-transient computer readable storage medium.

The processor of the controller may include any one or more of amicroprocessor, a controller, a microcontroller, a digital signalprocessor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), afield-programmable gate array (FPGA), and/or equivalent discrete orintegrated logic circuitry. In some examples, the processor may includemultiple components, such as any combination of one or moremicroprocessors, one or more controllers, one or more DSPs, one or moreASICs, and/or one or more FPGAs, as well as other discrete or integratedlogic circuitry. The functions attributed to the controller or processorherein may be embodied as software, firmware, hardware, or anycombination thereof. While described herein as a processor-based system,an alternative controller could utilize other components such as relaysand timers to achieve the desired results, either alone or incombination with a microprocessor-based system.

The exemplary systems, methods, and interfaces may be implemented usingone or more computer programs using a computing apparatus, which mayinclude one or more processors and/or memory. Program code and/or logicdescribed herein may be applied to input data/information to performfunctionality described herein and generate desired outputdata/information. The output data/information may be applied as an inputto one or more other devices and/or methods as described herein or aswould be applied in a known fashion. In view of the above, it will beclear that the controller functionality as described herein may beimplemented in any manner known to one skilled in the art.

In addition to other components, the mobile user device may include auser interface. The user interface may include a touchscreen, which maydisplay various elements such as a keyboard. The user interface mayallow the user to input various information, such as user data, one ormore battery identifiers, air mover control, or cleaning elementcontrol. The battery identifier entered may be stored on the mobile userdevice (for example, before or after connecting to the charger) or usedfor comparison with the battery identifier received using the charginginterface of the charger. The user interface may also display variousinformation, such as social data from the charger or messages from thecharger. Non-limiting examples of messages from the charger include:status messages (for example, charging status of the battery), reminders(for example, appointment or cleaning reminders), or alerts (forexample, a suggested cleaning of the aerosol-generating device based oncleaning data).

The charger and mobile user device may use any suitable wirelessprotocol to establish the connection. The charger and mobile user devicemay use a Bluetooth protocol to establish the connection. Variousmethods may be used to establish a connection over Bluetooth, forexample, depending on the version of Bluetooth used.

When using Bluetooth 4.0 or other star-like networks (for example, whichonly allow one master and several slaves that run off the master'sclock), the charger may act as a “slave” in the Bluetooth “master-slave”configuration. The charger may go into an advertise mode so as to bedetected by nearby mobile user devices. The mobile user devices may actas a “master” for the charger acting as a slave. Once the mobile userdevice detects an advertising packet from the charger, the mobile userdevice can allow for a wireless Bluetooth connection between the chargerand the mobile user device. After establishing the connection, thecharger and the mobile user device may switch roles so that the chargeris a master and the mobile user device is a slave.

When using Bluetooth 4.1 and higher or other dual-topology networkshaving multi-master properties (for example, which allow multiplemasters as well as multiple slaves), the charger may establishconnections to multiple mobile user devices, with some acting as slavesand some acting as masters.

Once a wireless connection has been established with a new nearby mobileuser device, the charger may proceed to associate batteries and mobileuser devices using the battery identifiers, at least for each of thebatteries which has not yet been linked to a mobile user device by thecharger. To do so, a specific application may be installed on the mobileuser devices, which may register and store various information, such asone or more battery identifiers associated with the aerosol-generatingdevice or user data (for example, a name or status).

The charger may read one or more battery identifiers transmitted fromthe mobile user device or send the battery identifier of the batterycoupled to the charger to one or mobile user devices to check formatches. Preferably, the charger may receive one or more batteryidentifiers from the mobile user devices and performs the check on thecontroller, which may have advantages, for example, from a data securityperspective.

The aerosol-generating device may be able to communicate with the mobileuser device or the charger. For example, the aerosol-generating devicemay include a communication interface capable of establishing aBluetooth or other wireless connection. The battery identifier may bereceived from the aerosol-generating device, which may have a controllerconfigured to detect the battery identifier from the battery (forexample, using power line communication). The battery identifier may betransmitted from the aerosol-generating device to the charger or may betransmitted to the mobile user device and then to the charger.

When a new battery or aerosol-generating device is coupled to thecharger, the charger may retrieve the battery identifier from thecoupled battery. The charger may then attempt to match the batteryidentifier to one connected mobile user device. If no match isdetermined, the charger may continue to establish connections with newmobile user devices until a match is found. If the charger finds a matchfor the battery identifier, the mobile user device may be added to theBluetooth network, or piconet, of the charger. If a connected mobileuser device does not match any of the battery identifiers, the mobileuser device may be disconnected.

FIG. 1 is an illustration showing an environment 10, in which one ormore users 12 may be in the vicinity of a charger 5. The environment 10may be a public or social space, such as a transit station for trains,planes, or buses. The users 12 may each have an aerosol-generatingdevice that may be charged by the charger 5 concurrently. The charger 5may be in an open space or an enclosed space for the users to congregatearound the charger. The charger 5 may facilitate social exchanges amongthe users 12 with a graphical user interface, a speaker, or mobile userdevices connected to the charger.

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration showing an example of oneaerosol-generating device 16. The device 16 may include a housing 14, amouth portion 24, and a controller portion 28. A battery 60, or otherportable power source, may be operatively coupled to one or morecomponents to power other components of the aerosol-generating device16. An actuator 26 may be disposed on the controller portion 28. Themouth portion 24 may include an aerosolizer 35 in the form of a heatingblade. An aerosol-generating substrate 37 in the form of a heat stickmay be inserted into the mouth portion 24 and onto the aerosolizer. Acontainer of the aerosol-generating substrate 37 may include or may becoupled to a mouthpiece 40. The user may inhale on the mouthpiece 40 toregister a user puff.

A thermal brake 62 may be disposed between at least a portion of theaerosolizer 35 and a control circuit 54. The aerosolizer 35 may extendthrough the thermal brake 62. The control circuit 54 may includecomponents to enable various functionality of the device 16, which maybe sensitive to heat produced by the aerosolizer 35.

The control circuit 54 may include a controller 50, which may be amicrocontroller or microprocessor, and a communications interface 52.The controller 50 may be operatively coupled to the aerosolizer 35 andthe communications interface 52. The communications interface 52 may beintegrated into the controller 50. The communications interface 52 maybe capable of communicating using a Bluetooth protocol. A puff sensor 51may be operatively coupled to the control circuit 54 and positioned todetect an inhalation of the user on the mouth portion 24. The controlcircuit 54 may include a memory 56 operatively coupled to the controller50. The memory 56 may be used to store data.

Although aerosol-generating device 16 is shown, other types ofaerosol-generating devices having a battery 60 are also contemplated,for example with different types of aerosolizers and other components.

FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of one example of a charger 100 foran aerosol-generating device, such as aerosol-generating device 16. Thecharger 100 may include a housing 116, which may at least partiallycontain one or more components of the charger 100. The charger 100 mayinclude a charging interface 102 operatively couplable to the battery 60of the aerosol-generating device 16 (FIG. 2). The charging interface 102may include one or more charging ports 104, one or more cleaning ports114, and a graphical user interface 120. The charging ports 104 and thecleaning ports 114 may be disposed in the housing 116 or formed thereinto create receptacles for receiving components of the aerosol-generatingdevice 16. The graphical user interface 120 may include one or morespecific screens 122 and one or more general screens 124. The graphicaluser interface 120 may include one or more touchscreens associated withthe screens 122, 124 or one or more associated actuators that are partof the charging interface 102 to receive user input.

The battery 60 (FIG. 2) may be at least partially inserted or coupled toone of the charging ports 104. Another component of theaerosol-generating device 16 (FIG. 2), such as the mouth portion 24having the aerosolizer 35 (FIG. 2), may be coupled to one of thecleaning ports 114. When the battery 60 is coupled, the specific screen122 associated with the charging port 104 may display information, suchas the charging status of the battery or the user's name. The generalscreen 124 may be used to display information to multiple users chargingtheir batteries in the one or more charging ports 104. The chargingports 104 and cleaning ports 114 may, generally, be arranged around thegeneral screen 124. Each charging port 104 may be proximate or adjacentto an associated cleaning port 114 or an associated specific screen 122.

The charger 100 may include a communication interface 106 to communicatewith a mobile user device 108, at least while the battery 60 (FIG. 2) iscoupled to the charging interface 102. Various information and data maybe communicated between the charger 100 and the mobile user device 108,which may facilitate convenient charging or social exchanges with otherusers of the charger. The mobile user device 108 may include a screen110, which may display information for the user related to user data orcharging data and which may include a touchscreen to receive user input.The communication interface 106 may also be capable of communicatingwith a wireless network 140, for example, to send messages to the mobileuser device 108, which may be connected to the same wireless network.

The charger 100 may include a controller 130 operatively coupled to thecharging interface 102 and the communication interface 106 to providevarious functionality of the charger 100. The controller 130 may also beoperatively coupled to a locking component 118 (for example, a lockablecompartment) to facilitate locking and unlocking in response to userinput, for example, through the mobile user device 108.

The charger 100 may include an air sensor 112. The air sensor 112 may beused to detect one or more contaminants in the vicinity of the charger100.

The charger 100 may include one or more speakers 126 to provide sound tothe one or more users in the vicinity of the charger. For example, musicmay be streamed from one of the mobile user devices through the speakers126.

FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of another example of a charger 200.Charger 200 may be similar to charger 100 (FIG. 3) and may include manyof the same components, except charger 200 may be modular. In otherwords, the housing 216 of the charger 200 may have one or more removablycouplable modules, each with various functionality. As illustrated, thecharger 200 may include a first module 202, a second module 204, a thirdmodule 206, and a fourth module 208. Each of the modules 202, 204, 206,208 may be operatively coupled to form a stack. The first module 202 mayinclude a charging interface 220. The second module 204 may provide apower supply, which may include a battery or a connection to an externalpower source (for example, an electrical outlet). The third module 206may include an air quality sensor 212. The third module 206 may also beoperatively couplable to an air mover 210 to control the air mover (forexample, using a wired or wireless connection). The fourth module 208may include one or more cleaning ports 214, each of which may include,for example, a rotating brush to clean a heating blade.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating one example of a method 300 toestablish a connection between a charger to a mobile user device using awireless protocol, particularly a Bluetooth protocol. In process 302,the charger may act as a slave. In process 304, the charger mayadvertise the connection to potential mobile user devices in thevicinity. In process 306, if a mobile user device acting as a masterconnects to the charger, then the method 300 may continue to process308. If a mobile user device has not connected, then the process mayreturn to process 304. In process 308, after the mobile user device isconnected, the mobile user device and the charger may switch roles. Inother words, the charger may act as a master, and the mobile user devicemay act as a slave. The method 300 may end with process 310, in whichthe mobile user device may be added to the piconet, or Bluetoothnetwork, of the charger.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating another example of a method 400 toestablish a connection between a charger to a mobile user device using awireless protocol, particularly a Bluetooth protocol. In process 402,the charger may detect that a new battery has been coupled to thecharging interface. In process 404, a battery identifier may beretrieved from the battery. In process 406, the charger may determinewhether all connected mobile user devices have been checked for thebattery identifier retrieved from the battery. If not all mobile userdevices have been checked, the method 400 may continue onto process 408to retrieve a battery identifier from an unchecked mobile user device(for example, from an application running on the mobile user device). Inprocess 410, the charger may determine whether the battery identifierfrom the mobile user device matches the battery identifier retrievedfrom the coupled battery. If not, the method 400 may return to process406 to continue checking mobile user devices for a matching identifier.If the battery identifiers match in process 410, then the method 400 maycontinue to process 412 to associate the coupled battery to the mobileuser device.

If all connected mobile user devices have been checked in process 406,the method 400 may continue onto process 414 to advertise the presenceof the charger to other mobile user devices in the vicinity. In process416, the charger may determine whether a new mobile user device hasconnected. If not, then the method 400 may repeat process 414. If a newmobile user device has been connected to the charger (for example, thecharger connects as a slave to a master mobile user device), the method400 may continue on to process 418 to switch the roles of the mobileuser device and the charger. In other words, the charger may act as amaster, and the mobile user device may act as a slave. The mobile userdevice may be added to the piconet of the charger in process 420.

The charger may retrieve one or more battery identifiers from the mobileuser device in process 422. In particular, an application running on themobile user device may provide the battery identifier to the charger.The charger may then determine whether the battery identifier retrievedfrom the coupled battery matches the battery identifier received fromthe mobile user device in process 424. If so, then the method 400 mayproceed to process 412 to associate the coupled battery to the mobileuser device. If the battery identifiers do not match, then the chargermay disconnect from the new mobile user device in process 426. Themethod 300 may then proceed to process 414 to continue advertising forpotential mobile user devices to connect.

The specific embodiments described above are intended to illustrate theinvention. However, other embodiments may be made without departing fromthe scope of the invention as defined in the claims, and it is to beunderstood that the specific embodiments described above are notintended to be limiting.

As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” encompassembodiments having plural referents, unless the content clearly dictatesotherwise.

As used herein, “or” is generally employed in its sense including“and/or” unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. The term“and/or” means one or all of the listed elements or a combination of anytwo or more of the listed elements.

As used herein, “have,” “having,” “include,” “including,” “comprise,”“comprising” or the like are used in their open-ended sense, andgenerally mean “including, but not limited to”. It will be understoodthat “consisting essentially of,” “consisting of,” and the like aresubsumed in “comprising,” and the like.

The terms “coupled” or “connected” refer to elements being attached toeach other either directly (in direct contact with each other) orindirectly (having one or more elements between and attaching the twoelements). Either term may be modified by “operatively” and “operably,”which may be used interchangeably, to describe that the coupling orconnection is configured to allow the components to interact to carryout at least some functionality (for example, a mobile user device maybe operatively coupled to a cellular network transmit data to or receivedata therefrom).

The words “preferred” and “preferably” refer to embodiments of theinvention that may afford certain benefits, under certain circumstances.However, other embodiments may also be preferred, under the same orother circumstances. Furthermore, the recitation of one or morepreferred embodiments does not imply that other embodiments are notuseful, and is not intended to exclude other embodiments from the scopeof the disclosure, including the claims.

1-26. (canceled)
 27. A charger for an aerosol-generating device, thecharger comprising: a charging interface operatively couplable to abattery for the aerosol-generating device; a communication interface tocommunicate with a mobile user device at least while the battery iscoupled to the charging interface, wherein the mobile user device isseparate from the battery; and a controller operatively coupled to thecharging interface and the communication interface, wherein thecontroller is configured to: determine a unique battery identifiercorresponding to the battery to allow the controller to distinguish onebattery from other batteries coupled to the charging interface;establish a connection with the mobile user device using thecommunication interface, the connection configured to communicate userdata; associate the battery identifier with the mobile user device inresponse to the determination of the battery identifier and theestablished connection with the mobile user device; send the batteryidentifier to the mobile user device using the communication interface;and receive a determination from the mobile user device that the batteryidentifier matches the mobile user device after sending the batteryidentifier to the mobile user device.
 28. The charger of claim 27,wherein the user data comprises one or more of: a username associatedwith the mobile user device, a mobile user device identifier, a maximumbattery charging time, one or more battery identifiers associated withthe mobile user device, cleaning data, calendar data, travel data,multimedia data, user preference data, and social data.
 29. The chargerof claim 27, wherein the controller is further configured to establishthe connection using a Bluetooth protocol.
 30. The charger of claim 27,wherein the controller is further configured to associate the batteryidentifier with the mobile user device based on user data communicatedbetween the communication interface and the mobile user device.
 31. Thecharger of claim 27, wherein the controller is further configured toreceive the battery identifier using the charging interface in responseto coupling the battery to the charging interface.
 32. The charger ofclaim 27, wherein the controller is further configured to send thebattery identifier to any mobile user device connected to the controllerto associate the battery with a particular mobile user device.
 33. Thecharger of claim 27, wherein the controller is further configured to:receive one or more battery identifiers associated with the mobile userdevice from the mobile user device; and determine whether the batteryidentifier matches one of the received one or more battery identifiers.34. The charger of claim 27, wherein the controller is furtherconfigured to disconnect from the mobile user device in response to thedetermination that the battery identifier does not match.
 35. Thecharger of claim 27, wherein the controller is further configured tosearch for another mobile user device in response to a determinationthat the battery identifier does not match.
 36. The charger of claim 27,wherein the controller is further configured to disconnect from themobile user device in response to the battery being uncoupled from thecharging interface.
 37. The charger of claim 27, wherein the controlleris further configured to: detect user action associated with thebattery; and send the battery identifier to the mobile user device usingthe communication interface in response to detection of the user action.38. The charger of claim 27, wherein the charging interface comprises ascreen and the controller is further configured to: generate a viewableelement based on user data from the mobile user device; and display theviewable element on the screen.
 39. The charger of claim 27, wherein thecontroller is further configured to: store an association of the batteryand the mobile user device; and search for the mobile user device usingthe communication interface in response to the battery being recoupledto the charging interface.
 40. The charger of claim 27, wherein thecontroller is further configured to send charger data to the mobile userdevice using the communication interface, the charger data comprisingone or more of: a level of charge of the battery, a time before fullcharge of the battery, a warning that full charge of the battery iscompleted, a warning that the battery remains operatively coupled to thecharging interface in response to the user having an upcoming event, atime since last cleaning of the aerosol-generating device at thischarger, a geographic location of the charger, and a service suggestion.41. The charger of claim 27, wherein the controller is furtherconfigured to charge the battery according to one or more of: a quickcharge mode and a load balancing mode.
 42. The charger of claim 27,wherein the controller is operatively couplable to a wireless network tosend a message to the mobile user device related to charging thebattery.
 43. The charger of claim 27, wherein the controller is furtherconfigured to: determine social data based on the user data from themobile user device; and share the social data with other mobile userdevices having an established connection using the communicationinterface.
 44. The charger of claim 27, wherein the charger comprises ahousing comprising the charging interface, the housing furthercomprising a locking component assignable to one or more users.
 45. Thecharger of claim 27, wherein the charging interface allows only one userto lock the battery to the charging interface to prevent others fromtaking the battery.